Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-11-02
CHASTITY THIEVING.
Women Who Attend Funerals Solely for
the Purpose of Stealing.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.

the Purpose of Stealing.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
"No, madame, you cannot enter"
said the usher gently but firmly.
"The funeral is strictly private, and
no one without g. card is to be ad-
mitted."
"She was q dear friend of mine"
and O. dainty white handkerchief with
q broad band of black was slowly
raised to sight. "Can I not see her
once more ?" There was q deep
pathos in the tone and g. plaintive
sob from behind the linen, while g.
tear drop slowly coursed down her
pale cheek.
The heart of the usher softened.
He was only q young man, and she
looked almost charming IN her appar-
eat distress, so he allowed her to en-
ter. Tiptoeing softly into the parlor
where no one but an aged lady was
sitting, she bent over the casket as if
to take one long last look at the de-
parted. Then, while convulsive sobs
shook her form. she moved a few
PAGES and leaned against the mantel,
upon which was placed large
amount of valuable bric-a -brac. Here
she remained for q moment with q
look of sadness upon her countenance
beftting the occasion, while her lips
trembied with suppressed grief. The
old lady was intently studying the
pattern OF the carpet, and when the
visitor left the room with lowered
head made no note of her departure.
Once outside and away from the
house, her steps qulckened, and teu
minutes later a valuable piece Of
bisque was handed over pawn brok-
er's counter, while the clerk slowly
counted out the requisite change.
When the funeral was over and the
family once more alone, the loss was
discovered only to be charged against
kept secret through fear Of offending
some OF those present by a searching
inquiry.
"Funeral sneak thieves are becom-
ing more and more numerous" said g.
well-knowD private detective yester-
day. "They are always females as
the heavy drapery of their clothing
affords ample opportunity Tor con-
cealing small articles. They scan the
daily papers closely, note the princi
pal deaths, and when the time arrives
play off the "dear friend" racket to
perfection. AS they are generally
quite pretty, and the beauty they
naturally possess is considerably en-
HANGED by the sombreness Of their
attire, they succeed in nine cases out
of ten in securing admission no mat
ter how private the funeral services
may be. Once inside, they cry lit
tie if necessary, and watch their
chance to steal anything Of value In
the room. Having succeeded they
make their departure as quickly, yet
decorously, as possible, and without
tarrving g. minute for fear of possible
detection and pursuit, pawn the stol-
en- article.
"When the room is full of people the
sneak thief proceeds very cautiously,
often waiting until the prayer is being
made before endeavoring to secure
anything. None OF those present pay
any attention to her actions, thinking
that she is friend of the bereaved
family. In some cases articles which
are missed from upper rooms have
been taken by these women.
IAN uptown lady recently placed a
valuable ring upon the finger of her
dead daughter, only to find when she
looked ut her before the lid was
screwed down that it was gone. In
this instance suspicion Immediately
attached to q woman whom no one
present knew, but who had been no.
ticed bending over the casket q few
minutes before. She was called into
another room, and when accused OF
the theft calmly handed over the ring.
In order to avoid q scene she was al
lowed to GO. In her cases, how
ever, these vampires have succeeded
in removing jewelry from the dead and
escaping whit"